The Note

W A S H I N G T O N, May 4

Page 7 of 9

The Washington Post's Ceci Connolly was at a demonstration of the new Medicare drug discount cards yesterday lead by none other than Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Connolly points out that despite the aggressive marketing toward seniors, confusion still abounds about drug prices. LINK

The morning shows:

The morning shows were light on politics this morning. All three led with former prisoner Thomas Hamill, who made a statement in Germany minutes before 7:00 am ET.

NBC's "Today Show" had a tell on Bush and Kerry, highlighting in a straightforward way Kerry's ad buy, Bush's bus tour and Kerry's plan to focus on education today. CBS had a Bill Plante package on the same topic. Plante noted that Kerry's ads were designed to counter critics who have argued Kerry has not defined himself -- and that Bush continues to define Kerry.

Vanity Fair author Robert Sam Anson visited NBC's "Today" to discuss his article on former President Clinton. Anson reports that the President "has not changed a bit" since he left Washington, and that "he has still not figured out how to handle himself, post White House." In previewing 42's much anticipated autobiography, Anson Noted that "you will read a lot about what it is like to be a southerner growing up" from the boy from Arkansas. Turning to presidential politics, Anson predicted Clinton will "try to take an enormous role in Kerry's candidacy," but was unsure about what effect or access he may be granted to the campaign.

Ambassador Joe Wilson appeared on CNN's "American Morning" to discuss his new book "Politics of Truth." "This was a question of holding your government accountable," Wilson said of his objecting to some of the intelligence used by the President in his State of the Union address. "This was a question of your civic duty." Bill Hemmer noted that Wilson had endorsed Sen. Kerry and that the White House refused to comment on the record to Wilson's book. "I guess they believe your book does not deserve comment," Hemmer mused.

Nader:

The Washington Times' Steve Miller looks at the state of Nader's ballot access efforts. Nader says he has been having trouble getting signatures in Texas where, he says, his volunteer petitioners are being blocked by officials on public property. Nader's Texas deadline is only a week away. He needs to get 64,000 signatures there by May 10. LINK

Indiana voters head to the polls today for a Republican primary between former OMB Director Mitch Daniels and attorney Eric Miller. Daniels is expected to win comfortably, but if Miller creeps up well into the 30s, then there will be some talkin' at the very least. Polls are open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm ET. There is no party registration in Indiana, so voters can go to the polls and vote on either the Republican or Democratic ballot on primary day.